Mixed reality blends the digital world with the physical one, whereas virtual reality blocks the physical one out. But as game developers are finding, and Unreal Engine 4's upcoming mixed reality support conveys, these two ideas belong together.

Basically, it's the difference between the first-person perspective you would see in a VR headset and a third-person perspective that renders what an onlooker would see (as depicted in the video above). This approach makes for a more compelling demonstration of what makes VR immersive. It also allows gamers to fulfill a common dream: to actually see oneself inside of a game.

With Unreal and Unity both supporting mixed reality capabilities, we're sure to see more VR games interacting directly with us and our physical environment. Mixed reality is ultimately more immerse because it offers those benefits and really functions as a natural evolution for VR.